There was an infinitesimal pause.
“You told her, I suppose, that I could not escort her to England?”
“Yes,” said the Marquis, and then a mad idea rushed into his mind. He raised himself on his elbow. “Am I to understand that you are reconsidering your decision—that you wish to take her—now?” His heart thumped absurdly on his ribs as he waited for the answer—absurdly, because he had no intention of allowing Louis to do so, but the question was a test.
Did Louis mutter something between his teeth? Aloud he only said: “Certainly not. What made you think so? I merely wanted to know if she were going. Good-night.”
CHAPTER XVI
FAREWELL
“If we must part,
Then let it be like this;
Not heart on heart,
Nor with the useless anguish of a kiss;
But touch my hand and say: